Women entrepreneurship and open market systems in agri-food businesses in Thyolo and Chiradzulu, Malawi
Mayeso Sabola Kachingwe
Women's entrepreneurship is central to the functioning of agri-food systems in sub-Saharan Africa, yet women-owned enterprises remain constrained by socio-cultural, structural, and financial barriers. This study examines how open-market systems shape opportunities and constraints for women entrepreneurs in agri-food businesses in Thyolo and Chiradzulu districts of Malawi. Rather than assuming linear enterprise progression, the analysis considers observable differences in enterprise scale, capita